Appointments boost NHF board's expertise

The National Housing Federation (NHF) has co-opted two new members to its board following a review of its governance procedures, to help the organisation direct its future strategy.

The appointments of Victoria Stark, chief executive of Look Ahead, and Sinead Butters, chief executive of Aspire Housing, are expected to widen the breadth of the board’s skills and experience. The two will formally stand for election to the board at the NHF’s AGM next year.

They, along with NHF chief executive David Orr, who was elected to the board at the AGM, replace Deborah Shackleton, Janet Davies and Maurice Condie, who stand down having served their full terms.

Stark has had a long and distinguished career in housing, the organisation says. She began her career as a housing policy officer with the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation. Then, having worked for three years with the Housing Corporation, she joined Look Ahead, where she has been chief executive since 1986.

She is chair of the Special Needs Housing Associations’ Group and was awarded the CBE in 2002 for services to the street homeless in London.

Stark has a vast range of contacts in the sector and brings to the board a strong business focus and a deep, extensive knowledge of social care. She is currently chair of the NHF's London regional committee.

Sinead Butters has been group chief executive at Aspire Housing since October 2006. She started her career as a customs and excise officer. She then did a five-year stint as a senior regulation officer at the Housing Corporation, before joining Aspire as a regeneration manager.

Butters brings to the board her experience of tackling worklessness and her knowledge of the role lifelong learning plays in the development of sustainable communities.

Commenting on the appointments, the NHF’s chair Matthew Taylor said: “I am delighted that we have been able to co-opt two such skilled and experienced social housing professionals as Victoria and Sinead. They will add immense value to the board, and to the work of the Federation as a whole. I would also like to thank Deborah Shackleton, Janet Davies and Maurice Condie for their excellent contributions. The Federation is in a stronger position now thanks to their important work.”

The two new board members were recommended to the board by the NHF’s new nominations committee, which was set up following the governance review.

The committee, which is chaired by Matthew Taylor, recruits members to the board from a wider pool of people than before, and makes sure that candidates are assessed according to specific skills and competencies, as well as a knowledge and enthusiasm for the sector.

In short-listing candidates, the committee strives to ensure the organisation maintains a skilled and diverse board, which can rise to the challenges the sector faces and be responsive and responsible to NHF members.